CHULA VISTA — Mere hours before last week’s opening night reception for Maxx Moses’ exhibition, “Good Morning America” at Southwestern College Art Gallery, the artist had a thunderclap of inspiration and got on the phone to gallery director Vallo Riberto.

Moses wanted several bales of hay to be strategically placed around his installation to create an antebellum atmosphere. Consulting the gallery’s meager finances, Riberto then ponied up $140 to rent 18 hay bales for the run of the show.